end to have House and
husband in mind. It is but for a week--or so."--"And Iemon San, the
House; they will be secure?"--"That Cho[u]bei is assured of. See: he has
the twenty _ryo[u]_ in hand. It is mere matter of securing the
compromising paper and the return of Iemon. Some negotiations are
necessary for that. In the future his behaviour will be much improved."
He clinked the coin before her. As O'Iwa passed up the stairs he
returned to the _hibachi_ of the wife. The tea was a short course.
Cho[u]bei was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from
above in the course of O'Iwa's initiation into a vileness the depth of
which she never even could suspect. "Yes: trade is good. Women are
difficult to secure. The men prefer to have them in their homes, rather
than to gain by their service elsewhere." In such professional talk of a
few moments he quickly dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his
clogs, and departed. O'Iwa had disappeared far into the depths.

Toemon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman--"Are you mad, to
pay twenty _ryo[u]_ for such an ugly wench? No choice was given. This
Matsu was to receive her. Cho[u]bei is a cheat." Toemon and the
_banto[u]_ drew O'Iwa under the light, much as if she were a bag of
rice--"The clever rascal! From crown of the head to neck she is all made
up. And perhaps elsewhere."--"At all events she is a woman." The
_banto[u]_ spoke as in doubt. "Never mind: we are great artists, too, if
not so good at cheating as this Cho[u]bei. Twenty-six years! She's forty
at least.... What may be your honoured age?"--"Twenty-six years,"
replied the distressed O'Iwa. The wife threw up her hands--"And she does
not lie!... Haru! Ko[u]ta! It is time to go out. The bell already
strikes the hour of the dog (7 P.M.). Take Iwa to the reception room
(_yoseba_). She is to learn the ways of the place; where to entertain
her guests.... Come! Along with all of you!" Some ten or fifteen women
had gathered in their array for their night's campaign. Paint, powder,
plaster, disguised the ravages of disease among the hardened set of this
low class house. O'Iwa accompanied O'Haru to what had been called the
_yoseba_. The girl explained to her. Here was the place to bring and
entertain any guest picked up on the street. They were not the degraded
wretches who made the darkness of an alleyway the reception room for
their lovers. It was to be remembered that the wine drunk not only
profited the hous